PUPILS at a Peeblesshire primary school have launched a project they hope will support equity and sustainability in the community.
The Swap and Share Shed at Kingsland Primary School in Peebles was created by the Pupil Council with the support of equity and improvement teacher Faye Brown.
The pupils successfully applied for funding from Scottish Borders Council (SBC) Welfare Trust to cover the cost of purchasing a shed.
The Swap and Share Shed is available to help those in need but also encourages people to reduce their waste.
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Ms Brown said: "We are very excited about the opportunities this shed provides for our school community.
"We want to make it easy for those in need to access supplies and resources without any stigma attached and also normalise re-using and sharing to reduce waste and help the environment.
"I am very proud of how well the Pupil Council have led this project and created a great resource for the community."
Believed to be the first Swap and Share Shed of its kind to be based in a Borders primary school, Kingsland Pupil Council was inspired by the Swap and Share Shed in Innerleithen.
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Some of the items available include second-hand Kingsland uniforms and PE kits, children's books, dried food, vegetables grown by pupils, learning resources such as pens and pencils, and toiletries, including sanitary items.
The Swap and Share Shed invites users to take what they need for free, but also asks that is people have things at home which could be used by someone else, that they be donated to the shed to be reused.
The shed is open from 8am-6pm and is decorated with the 17 sustainable development goals created by the Pupil Council.
The logo on the front of the shed was created by Anna Maciver and Vivienne Jones who won the school's logo design competition.
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The Pupil Council also received support from the school's digital ambassador group which worked in collaboration with its partner school in Nepal to code a Microbit to measure the footfall of the shed so pupils can monitor the success of the project.
Struan, who is in P6 and is a member of the Pupil Council, said: "When it was mentioned I thought it would be a very exciting thing as not a lot of places and countries have it, I think it's a great idea.
"Being part of the group that put it together was fascinating to see it develop because when I helped with the varnishing and painting, it was amazing.
"I think people are really liking the idea and I think they are going there quite frequently to add new things or look for something they might need."
If anyone is interested in volunteering to support the monitoring and running of the shed, please get in touch with Mrs Brown via the school office on 01721 720 025.
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